Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea’s largest automaker and part of the world’s fifth largest auto manufacturer, posted a 6.9 percent increase in its 2008 global sales, mainly due to strong demand for its cars in emerging markets.
Overseas sales, including exports from Korea and sales from the company’s overseas plants increased 11.8 percent to 2,210,715 units in 2008, up from 1,977,042 units a year earlier.
Domestic sales in 2008 fell 8.7 percent to 570,962 units from 625,275 units in 2007. Korea domestic sales decreased for the first time since 2004 as sales of SUVs and commercial vehicles were hit badly by the domestic market downturn.
Exports from Korea rose 2.1 percent to 1,099,515 units for the year, while overseas plants’ sales recorded a 23.4 percent increase to 1,111,200, including sales to other export markets. This is the first time sales at overseas plants exceeded the 1 million mark.
Sales of vehicles produced in Hyundai’s new manufacturing plant in India, where the i20 and i10 are built, amounted to 486,224, of which 243,946 were exported.
In Australia, Hyundai Motor Company finished the year with 45,409 units sold, with its most recently launched models posting strong growth. The i30, recognised as Australia’s Best Car under $28,000, achieved 10,203 sales (compared to 2,005 units in 2007). Meanwhile Hyundai’s first commercial vehicle, the iLoad, attained 2000 sales last year while the iMax shuttle, found 672 new owners. |
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